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The City Times
Including: Boreham, Broomfield, Danbury, Great Baddow, Maldon, South Woodham Ferrers, The Walthams and Writtle 10,000 copies per month Issue Number 92 - June 17th - July 15th 2021
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City Times Intro Hello readers, Welcome to the June/July issue. Nice to see good weather returning - it certainly put a smile on our faces, and we hope yours too. It’s great to have even more events to list this month - including plenty of outdoor events. Please remember to let our advertisers know that you saw their advert in the City Times! Stay safe! Paul & Nick www.thecitytimes.co.uk | www.moulshamtimes.com Advertising Editorial Nick Garner Paul Mclean 07970 206682 01245 262082 / 07595 949701 ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk
it’s your media Ltd Disclaimer: It’s Your Media Ltd publish The City Times. The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of It’s Your Media Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the prior written permission of It’s Your Media Ltd. Registered offices: 15 Hayes Close, Chelmsford. Reg No 9154871. Printed by Warners (Midlands) PLC.
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City Times Food: Superfood Weeds - By Lisa Whittle There are a few plants considered to be weeds that you may not realise are actually good for you and walk right past them, or even throw them on the compost heap. In fact you may have even considered them to be annoying pests. I want to change your mind about these today… The first plant is the stinging nettle. How irritating is it to get stung by these and to have to search for a dock leaf to rub yourself with and have that painful rash that lasts a good few hours? You may not be kindly disposed towards the humble and commonly seen stinging nettle, but have you ever wondered why stinging nettles have their sting? It’s actually because they are so nutritious to us and animals that without their sting defence they would be gobbled up and wouldn’t stand a chance of existing. You could call it the stinging nettle’s survival strategy. Stinging nettles with their dark green colour are rich in iron, magnesium, potassium, calcium silica and phosphorous and have the vitamins A, C, Eating dandelion leaves can improve K and several of the B family. your mood They contain several types of beneficial fat and all of the amino acids and many beneficial phytonutrients you really could call them a superfood. They are rumoured to be helpful for hay fever too, which is now in full-swing for grass-pollen hay fever sufferers. They are also anti-inflammatory and full of antioxidants. Stinging nettles are also thought to stimulate the production of nitric oxide in the body, which relaxes blood vessels and helps you feel relaxed. They are used medicinally as an iron tonic and to help arthritis and rheumatism. Once the stinging nettle is heated, it loses its sting and the same if you allow it to wilt and dry out. I know someone who gathers nettles for her horses, but lets them wilt first before giving the nettles to them so there are no sore mouths. The horses love nettles, but seem to know not to go near them when they are growing.
Ground elder - friend or foe?
Gather nettles with protective gloves on and wash them well. Because it’s so nutritious, a number of insects - including ladybirds - specifically lay their eggs on the underside of the
nettle leaves. What You Can Do With Stinging Nettle Leaves: • Make herbal tea. • Put fresh stinging nettle leaves in smoothies. • Cook it like you would spinach and eat it as a vegetable. • Use it for soups, stews, stir fries and quiches and no one will know it’s not spinach. Cleavers are the stringy fastgrowing weeds that cling (or ‘cleave’ hence the name) to you like Velcro (including their Cleavers make a pleasant tasting medicinal herbal tea seeds in late summer and autumn). It is actually part of the coffee family and its seeds can be ground into ‘cleavers coffee’. Cleavers are most known in the herbal world as being an excellent cleanser of the body and diuretic, which means it helps expel excess fluid. I most often use it to make herbal tea, which is a great cleanser of the lymphatic system - just put it in a mug and add boiling water. It has a mild, pleasant taste. It can also be used in smoothies as a useful green nutritious leafy vegetable. What You Can Do With Cleavers: • Grind the dried seeds, roast them and use like ground coffee. • Make herbal tea. • Use in smoothies. Ground elder is a weed that strikes fear into the heart of any gardener because it’s so hard to get rid off once its there - and it spreads. We have the Romans to thank for Stinging nettles are so nutritious they need their sting to protect them it; they brought it over from Italy and introduced it here because they ate it as a vegetable. But then we introduced it to North America. When you realise what a nutritious plant it is, you just might change your attitude to it. Once again, as a leafy green vegetable it is rich in minerals and vitamins and phytonutrients - similar to nettles. The young leaves are particularly high in vitamin C. In the Middle Ages it was grown as a medicinal herb in monasteries as a cure for gout and to relieve pain and swelling.
Cleavers
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The best way to eat it is either to pick the young tender leaves and eat it in salads or cook it like spinach - it’s lovely fried in butter or olive oil. If you have a patch in your garden and want to generate a crop of new tender leaves, cut it back and it will sprout new young leaves in a week or two. www.chelmsfordthecitytimes.co.uk
It’s best grown in pots if you are deliberately growing it as a salad vegetable. You can also use the leaves in smoothies. I find it handy if I’ve run out of anything else to use.
• •
What You Can Do With Ground Elder Leaves: • Fry it in butter or olive oil. • Use it like spinach. • Use it in smoothies. • Eat the young tender leaves in salads.
If this interests you, you can find out more from a fascinating website called Eatweeds: www.eatweeds.co.uk.
Dandelion leaves are bitter to taste, which is an indicator to a herbalist that they are good for the liver. Indeed, dandelion leaves and their roots are cleansing for the liver. They are also a natural diuretic, as are cleavers. The young leaves which are not so bitter as their fully grown counterpart can be eaten in salads - or just eat them! If you are feeling angry and grumpy chew on some dandelion leaves and you will feel better in an hour or less.
Fry the leaves Asian style. Wash the roots and chop and boil them to make a coffee alternative.
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What You Can Do With All of these can often be found Dandelions: • Use the young leaves in growing within a few metres of each other salads.
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Nick’s Music and Ramblings I am writing this article on the 10th June and of course we hope to open up the country on June 21st - and my fingers are crossed that we can go ahead, as I have shows booked and l worry for the artists, the venues, the staff and all who have got tickets and are looking forward to turning up and enjoying the live music. Of course, we will have to wait and see, and by the time you are reading this we should hopefully know what the big plan is. We had a big surprise when our Black Frog Presents Isolation Festival won an award for Best One-Off Online Event of the year in the local Panic Awards! We started the Isolation Festival online last year during the first lockdown with 195 acts taking part over twelve weekends. Along with the Panic Awards win, we were also a finalist in the UK Blues Awards. I have to say I am so proud of the team and all the artists who made it possible - and of course, you who voted for us. To be honest, I am not big on awards myself personally, but it is great for Black Frog. Now it is time to move forward and get the ball rolling... I have been to a couple of live shows recently and I popped into the UB for a snippet of their last UB Fest too, which was well attended and by all reports was fantastic. We now know that Justin from The New London and Bottle Bureau is taking over and we wish him well. Next, I am off to my first festival proper in Dorchester called Raising Spirit. The festival has some of my friends playing, so I am there to photograph and film parts of it for them. The best event so far for me was on the second May bank holiday Monday, when I went to daughter’s to be celebrate my ex-wife’s birthday (we are still vey good friends) with our children and grandchildren and a couple of mates. It was a fabulous time - in fact it was the best day I have had in over a year, as we were able to hug each other as well. Oh how I have missed them all, as they all live about fifty miles away. Due to being stuck indoors for much of the past year I am not that up to speed with what is happening around me as much as I should be - although I know there is lots planned and I hope all events will be able to go ahead. I have had a problem with my beloved caravan. I took it out to get some new tyres fitted and when I came to put it back in the place where it is stored (which is very tight), what I thought to be just shrubbery had a metal bar in it and it has ripped the side and smashed a window and put a hole in it. Sadly, it’s a write-off. Trying to find a replacement is not easy with this current staycation trend; caravans for sale are becoming a bit like hen’s teeth. I will continue to look, as I just can’t downgrade to a tent - when I get down, I am not sure I would ever be able to get up again! The gardens are starting to bloom, and my mock orange is out and the bees are loving it. I also left the lawn to grow as they seem to be enjoying the daisies, clover and buttercups growing in it as well. I have also added a shallow bowl with some stones in so that that bees and other insects can get water. I see people are looking more relaxed when out, and that most are being cautious as well which I am pleased about - if we all tread with some caution, we hopefully will see a brighter future. The pandemic has clearly been catastrophic for the whole world; I just hope that we all learn and value the good things we have around us more. When you look up to the skies and see how clear it is thanks to the lack of vapour trails it’s lovely. Maybe more people will discover what a wonderful and beautiful place our island is and travel abroad less and explore here instead.
Take note and care of the wildlife that has appeared around us now too. If we can all just take care to reduce the packaging and reuse things: when you buy something that is covered in plastic or nonessential packaging, remove it and give to the shop to dispose of. This may help to eventually reduce some of the unnecessary use of this type of packaging that is choking the world and seems to be getting into everything. When you have a baby, think of all of the nappies you use too - it’s just as simple to use reusable washable ones. You and l can make a difference so let’s do it together. Music Live entertainment is here again. Now all we need is for you to support it and that will help the artists the venues and their staff you will have a good time as well. I have lots coming up at Chelmsford City Football Club and as well as my events, there is music and entertainment at the Hot House and many other venues in and around the area. The festivals are starting and once again the Chelmsford Festival is back as well as the Book Festival and there is more live music in Admirals Park, Central Park and around Hylands Park. I also see that Dixie Fields is now called Tennessee Fields and is back as well - check out our What’s On guide in this issue. I know places like Chelmsford Museum and the Museum of Power have stuff going on too. Please note that regarding my events, you can get tickets from the football club once again and in person from Intense Records, Hopsters and Chelmsford 4Good. Tickets are also available online or via our ticket hotline - just call 07508 496 411. Please see my Black Frog Presents link below which will give you links to all of our pages so that you can be kept up to speed as to where we are at. It would be fantastic if you could share both our magazines the City Times and Moulsham Times for us. We also continue to publish both magazines online at www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia. If you are interested in advertising with us please email ads@itsyourmedia. co.uk, or if you have a comment or an article please send it to editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk and we will reply to you as soon as we can. For all my updates and information visit Black Frog Presents: www. linktr.ee/BlackFrogPresents. Or see the poster on page 13.
Please send all your events for inclusion in our What’s On guide from 15/7/21 - 22/8/21 to editorial@ itsyourmedia.co.uk
These days, we can of course easily communicate online without having to fly half way around the planet or drive across the country. Page 6
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City Times Gardening There is nothing better than seeing a well manicured lawn to set off your beds and borders.
A utility lawn should be cut to a height of 4cm in the winter and then gradually reduced to the summer cutting height of just under 3cm.
The single most important lawn maintenance task is mowing; frequent mowing at the correct height encourages a dense sward which inhibits weed growth.
The lawn will require mowing whenever in active growth - this can be right through the year when it is a mild winter. Ensure that the grass is dry prior to mowing, to prevent tearing the grass. As a rule, remove no more than one third of the grass at one time to prevent weakening the turf. In dry spells the mowing height should be raised. Slightly longer grass will reduce water loss from the upper layers of soil. Choose a dry day to mow using a besom to remove any dew prior to mowing. Mow around the outside of the lawn and then fill in, alternating the direction of cut to prevent the sward laying flat.
Mowing Height The height to which a lawn should be cut is determined by the grass species and its use. A fine quality lawn should be cut to a height of 2cm in winter, slightly lower in spring and as low as 1cm in summer.
The clippings can either be collected or can be ‘let fly’. It can be advantageous to leave short clippings on the lawn in drought conditions to help reduce water loss from the soil surface through evaporation.
Edging A neat lawn edge enhances 20% discount when you the overall appearance of mention Mousham Times! a lawn. Recutting the lawn edge should be done when • Trees • Pruning • Hedges • Roots Removed • Topping • Patios necessary in spring using a • Rotovating • Turfing • Fencing • Garden Design • Decking half-moon edger. A straight • Block Paving • Tar & Shingle • Guttering • Chimney Repairs edge, such as a wooden plank • Building Work• Roofing • Fascias & Soffits • Drainage solutions may be used as a guide. During the remainder of the growing season the edge should be maintained using lawn-edging shears - weekly or fortnightly - cutting vertically, hard against the turf edge. Collecting clippings will avoid the possibility of any taking root in the bed, border or path. Mechanised tools are also available for both operations.
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Feeding and Watering Regular feeding and watering will keep a lawn looking lush and green. It is important to replace the nutrients removed with the clippings; the turf should be fertilised at the beginning of the growing season to encourage vigorous healthy growth. The spring/summer fertiliser should contain the three main nutrients - nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and may contain magnesium. A typical nutrient percentage analysis for a spring/summer fertiliser would be 124-6. Turf can be fertilised again in the autumn with a low nitrogen fertiliser to avoid promoting leafy growth, which could fall prey to fungal diseases. A typical nutrient percentage analysis for an autumn fertiliser would be 5-5-15.
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Fertiliser must be applied onto turf when the soil is moist and the grass dry - it must be applied strictly according to the label. If rain does not occur within 24 hours of application, thorough irrigation is necessary. Turf fertilisers can be applied by hand on small areas or by pedestrian fertiliser distributors on larger areas. To maintain a rich green sward, irrigation will be necessary in times
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of drought. As with all plants, thorough watering to a depth of 10cm is preferable to light sprinklings - it will take several hours of watering to achieve this. Pop-up sprinklers are ideal for lawns and can often be programmed to switch on during the night reducing the amount of water lost by evaporation.
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Turf Weeds Perennials form the majority of problem turf weeds. Plants such as Achillea millefolium (yarrow) have creeping rhizomes whilst others such as Taraxacum officinale (dandelion) have tap roots. Both physical features allow them to flourish in the conditions found in lawns. Fewer annual weeds cause problems but Poa annua (annual meadow grass) is prolific as it can set seed at a very low height enabling it to do so under the cutting height of the mower blades. Weed Control The best way of controlling weeds is to try to prevent them. This can be achieved by regular mowing, removal of the clippings, regular scarification and feeding. Many turf weeds (and worms) are discouraged by slightly acidic conditions. Physical removal by hand is feasible for small weed infestations, but larger scale problems are best dealt with by the application of a selective herbicide. A selective herbicide is applied to the entire lawn and if applied correctly only kills the weeds. It may be combined with a fertiliser as a ‘weed & feed’. All chemicals must be applied strictly according to the instructions - do not compost lawn clippings from the first two cuts after application. Moss Control Moss is more prevalent on acid soils but will grow on any turf which is poorly drained, shady, low in nutrients, cut too close or short, or suffering from drought. Cultural control by rectifying any contributing factors may be successful in treating moss. Chemical control can be achieved with the use of lawn sand or selective herbicides. Lawn sand is a mixture of 3 parts ammonium sulphate, 1 part ferrous sulphate and 10-20 parts sand. It is applied to moist soil in spring or early summer at the rate of 100-170 g/m². Lawn sand is effective against moss and shallow rooted broad-leaved weeds - the treated moss dies and should then be raked out. Lastly, do not forget to pot up any rooted cuttings or pot on perennials using a peat free compost - and look at steps to improve moisture levels in your beds and borders. Check out this useful link: www.rhs. org.uk/science/gardening-in-a-changing-world/water-use-in-gardens/ managing-water-in-gardens. Check out this link for further jobs for the garden: www.rhs.org.uk/ advice/in-month/june. Happy gardening! For any gardening tips, please contact Tom Cole, Horticultural Lecturer, Capel Manor College, Bullsmoor Lane, Enfield, Middlesex, EN1 4RR, or email tom.cole@capel.ac.uk.
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Regal Kitchens - Case Study
Mr and Mrs B from Writtle in Chelmsford had spent months touring kitchen showrooms and were near the end of their tether. They had found that ‘designers’ either wanted to copy the existing floor plan or design whatever came into their heads with no regard for the family’s personal or style needs. So when they were recommended to Regal by a friend they wondered if they would only be repeating the now familiar cycle. However, from their first visit to the showroom they realised Regal did things a little differently and happily accepted their offer to organise a kitchen expert to visit them at home. Mrs B had a lot of nice smaller kitchen accessories which she wanted to show off in a modern way, as well as achieving more storage and working space from the new kitchen. They also felt like their appliances weren’t very well placed when it came to preparing family meals.
and eye level there is no more bending down to check on a dish (she said her back thanks her everyday!). Both Regal and the client are delighted with the completed project.
The problem with the existing kitchen, aside from it being tired and dated, was a lack of storage and a usable worktop - it was ergonomically unfriendly. After a bit of thought it was decided that the appliances and their positions were more of a hindrance. So out with the range cooker, in with the Neff eye-level slide and hide oven with matching combi. No more messy gas top but rather the flex-induction venting hob (added advantage of freeing the walls up for some unfussy open shelving. Swapping the free-standing fridge, freezer and dishwasher for integrated items helped to complete the designer look. All the tall cabinets were placed on the side wall so as not to close in the open-plan feel. Also swapping the high maintenance wooden worktops for quality quartz really helped make using the kitchen an enjoyable experience. The combination of the different shades of grey furniture with the light quartz makes for a clean modern look, but to ensure it’s not too cold, the warm wood effect LVT really brings it to life. The customer enjoys cooking - the new Neff appliances have reignited her love for preparing exciting new dishes, and as the ovens are now at waist Page 10
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City Times Finance
Is Your Home Your Pension?
to an existing scheme.
There have been recent instances where clients comment that their property is their pension and therefore they do not see the need to start a pension or keep contributing
On the surface, property values, broadly speaking, follow a general upward trend, so the logical conclusion is that there is either an equity waiting to be released or substantial capital gain to be realised. Sounds good, doesn’t it? The ideal investment then - in simplistic terms, you buy an asset for x-amount, wait a few years or decades and hey presto - huge gain in the form of a lump sum to be had. Well not so fast; a slump in the housing market or a downward trend in property prices, can be a real thing and if it does happen that could mean a slide into negative equity. What about ‘part time’ landlords with a couple or more properties? Surely, the rental income pays for the upkeep of the property, covers the mortgage, and maybe even generates a healthy income stream. So why is buy-to-let not the best retirement income strategy? Void periods, less than ideal tenants and numerous tax changes in recent years, have meant that this type of asset should not be relied upon to provide secure income. The illiquid nature of bricks and mortar means that it could take a long time to sell, or worse, not sell - or even worse, sell at a loss.
either sense of the word! If you would like to discuss any of the above please contact us, we will always help. Silvia Johnson Bsc(Hons), DipPFS, EFA, CertCII (MP) is a Director and Independent Financial Adviser at Royale Thames Wealth and provides independent financial advice to individuals and businesses. www.royalthameswealth.co.uk silvia@royalthameswealth.co.uk 07908 109 741/020 8720 7249 Royale Thames Wealth Ltd is an Appointed Representative of New Leaf Distribution Ltd which is authorised and regulated by Financial Conduct Authority number 460421. The value of your investment may go up as well as down and the value is not guaranteed. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. Wills and Estate Planning are not regulated by the FCA.
What if you could use property as an investment for retirement, without all the hassle and headache of physically owning the property or properties? Options for indirect property investments come in many guises, such as Real Estate Investment Trusts, Property Unit Trusts, Property Investment Trusts among many others, this could be a means of generating income or capital growth depending on your objectives, within a diversified portfolio. Your independent financial adviser will be able to assess the suitability of any such investments with regard to your risk profile and capacity for loss. For comparison, to reflect the level of risk, the yields tend to be higher than bonds or gilts, but remember investment values can go down as well as up.
Next City Times Issue Deadlines: Articles - 2nd July Artwork - 9th July Issue Date - 15th July
So as we can see from the above strategies, whilst having their place in the context of a solid financial plan, the scope for providing retirement income is somewhat limited. With many of us living longer than before it is of paramount importance that we seek income that is sustainable for potentially a very long time. This is particularly the case if property is your preferred choice, it goes without saying that it’s imperative that you seek independent financial advice to make sure that any retirement strategy is the correct one for you and your circumstances. To sum up, property whether it’s in a physical form, or as an investment counterpart, could present an option for your retirement income strategy. However, best not to try DIY in Page 12
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The AirSeal system was finally delivered to Broomfield Hospital towards the end of May this year - months later than intended and required. Sadly the delays were due to local NHS bureaucracy following the merger of the Mid Essex and South Essex NHS Trusts. What was particularly frustrating for Chelmer Bridge was that the club was funding the purchase of the equipment 100%, so theoretically there should have been no cause for delays whatsoever as the NHS Trust was not using any of its own budget.
Multum in Parvo
Chelmer Bridge Rotary Club, the smallest of the five Chelmsford clubs, is proud of its fundraising success over the years and has always tried to live up to its self-appointed unofficial motto: ‘Multum in Parvo’ - which is latin for ‘Much in Little’ and was borrowed from Rutland, England’s smallest county. Over the years the club has established a close relationship with Broomfield Hospital, raising funds to help with the acquisition of specialist equipment for the Burns Unit, the Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery team and baby monitors for the Neonatal Unit. In addition, the club has taken Easter eggs to the childrens’ wards for upwards of 30 years until the pandemic struck. In the summer of last year, the club decided to embark on a major fundraising project using for the first time crowdfunding. After discussion, it was decided to ask Bruno Lorenzi, one of the surgeons in the Keyhole and Robotic Surgery team at Broomfield, if his department had an urgent need for any items of surgical equipment.
Bruno Lorenzi with the new equipment COVID-19 pandemic which had taken hold.
A little delayed, but at last the club has had the satisfaction of seeing a vital piece of equipment delivered to Broomfield Hospital and now in use and a vital benefit to the local community and our NHS medical staff. Dunmow Rotary Win Thrilling Hugh Markham Tie On a completely different subject, as lockdown rules changed, local Rotary clubs began their inter-club competitions. Chelmsford Phoenix were drawn against Dunmow and challenged them to Kubb, a Swedish game where you have to knock over wooden blocks by throwing wooden batons at them and finally knocking over the King. It is a little more complicated than it sounds and Dunmow took a little while to get the hang of the rules and quickly found themselves one game down in the best of three. However, after a team-talk they rallied and ran out winners 2-1. As with all these competitions the fellowship with other clubs makes for an enjoyable time and this was further enhanced with a celebratory drink in a local pub to finish off the day.
The response was very prompt - yes, an additional AirSeal IFS system for keyhole and robotic surgery, particularly during the
For such surgery the abdomen has to be inflated with CO2 gas to gain access and perform the procedure. When the gas is removed on completion of the operation it could carry the COVID-19 virus and infect the surgeon and theatre team. The AirSeal closed system is leak-free and safely extracts the CO2 gas and maintains a safe and clean environment in the theatre for the surgeons and their teams. The system also reduces the discomfort of the patient and facilitates a faster recovery. Broomfield had only one AirSeal system and desperately needed a second to increase the number of keyhole and robotic procedures and reduce the massive backlog of operations cancelled because of the pandemic. The capital cost of the system was in excess of £20,000 which would have been beyond most of the club’s regular fundraising activities, so it was ideal for crowdfunding as long as sufficient interest in the project could be generated. Fortunately the club eventually reached its target, but it was hard work and very time consuming. The Friends at Broomfield kindly pledged their support if the club’s fundraising fell short, but ultimately their offer was not required.
Dunmow are the kings of Kubb This report shows the two sides of Rotary - the benefits of working together for the local community and the friendships that are made by being a Rotarian. Everyone is welcome: men and women, all ages. Local clubs have plenty of ideas in the pipeline, so visit the website at www.rotary1240.org, or give me a call on 01245 260 349 if you would like to know how you can become involved. Stan Keller
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Charity of the Month - Meadows Shopmobility Meadows Shopmobility is a small but very important independent charity in the city of Chelmsford - Geraldine Roe is the Co-Ordinator and 12 dedicated volunteers man the office 5-days a week. There is also a small team of trustees led by Brian Poole who is the Chairperson. We run a membership scheme and the charity is committed to keeping the membership fees low, so that it is affordable. However, these fees are currently suspended for anyone wishing to join due to COVID-19 and the restrictions this has placed upon all of our lives especially on those that would usually use our service who have had to shield or self-isolate. Now that Chelmsford is opening up again, we would like to help those that wish to make use of our service by offering a free 1-year membership, and it is very easy to register. Come and see us in our office in Q-Park car park, (opposite the Odeon cinema). Please bring proof of your home address and ID and we can sign you up straight away. Do not worry if you have never used a scooter before, as we are here to help you. We also offer a casual hire scheme, so that anyone visiting Chelmsford that needs help to get around can come and hire a scooter or a wheelchair just for the day. You do not have to be a Chelmsford resident to use our service. Anyone over the age of 16 can hire a scooter (a 16-17-year-old would need to be accompanied by an adult). You do not have to be registered disabled to use our service. Anyone with a mobility problem, be it temporary or long term, can use the scheme. Scooter training and safety will be given upon casual hire and when taking out a membership. We have just updated our holiday hire fleet. We have acquired 2 new car-boot scooters to add to our existing holiday hire range. These also fit in the hold of a coach. There is a hire charge for this service and a deposit is required. Manual wheelchairs are also part of the holiday hire scheme. Booking is essential as this is a very popular service - please call Geraldine on 01245 357 097 to enquire. Along with the two new holiday hire scooters, we have also updated the range of larger scooters in the fleet. It is the charity’s mission to invest in new equipment regularly, and we have a variety of scooters to choose from which allow people to get out and about. So no matter what your needs are, we will have something that will help with any mobility issue. We also have a selection of wheelchairs, including a bariatric wheelchair, electric wheelchair, and a small child-size wheelchair. Self-propel wheelchairs and transit wheelchairs are available too. It is in our charity charter to help and assist people to be confident, independent and free to enjoy getting around the city, and to aid people in their homes and assist in them being able to get away for that all important holiday. As a self-funding charity, we run a second-hand bookshop where our stock is all donated - we earn income from books that have seen better days. The shop is run by another team of dedicated volunteers. If you have books to donate, please take them into the bookshop or call our office for more information on how you can donate your unwanted books and puzzles to us. We have a Facebook page too, search for ‘Meadows Shopmobility’ and ‘like’ and ‘follow’ us on there for updates on our service. The book shop can also be found on Facebook by searching ‘Chelmsford Community Bookshop’ - look out for special offers running in the shop. All our mediums tell you about what is going on at the charity and our
current opening times. We are currently looking for volunteers. If you have 3 hours to help each week then please get in touch - we are currently looking for receptionists and scooter operatives and all training will be given; we are a caring and friendly team. We are also looking for volunteer trustees - the trustees oversee the running of the charity. If you are interested in any of the vacant positions, please contact Geraldine in the office. For membership, holiday hire, casual hire fees and volunteering please contact Geraldine directly on 01245 357 097 or email meadowsshopmobility@btconnect.com. Office located on the ground floor by the disabled bays in the multistory car park (by the Odeon cinema) the address is: Q-Park car park Can Bridge Way Chelmsford CM2 0WP The Book Shop 4 Market Road Chelmsford CM1 1XA www.meadowsshopmobility.org.uk
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What’s On All events are correct at time of going to press. Please check with the venue for updates.
June
Friday 18th Hotbox - Ramon Goose Hyde Hall - Plant Show Saturday 19th Hotbox - Prey Drive + The Downstairs Room Hyde Hall - Plant Show Sunday 20th Online - Black Frog Presents: shows from 5pm (see page 6 for details) Monday 21st Hotbox - Bilk Thursday 24th Civic Theatre - Ballet Central Hotbox - Jar Records Presents: Swimsuit Competition Hyde Hall - Craft & Design Show Friday 25th CCFC - Siim Chance + The Ugly Guys Hotbox - Jamie Williams & The Roots Collective + Joe Anderton Hyde Hall - Craft & Design Show Saturday 26th Hotbox - The Kopy Katz Hyde Hall - Craft & Design Show Motorfest - Kings Farm Sunday 27th Online - Black Frog Presents: shows from 5pm (see page 6 for details) Hyde Hall - Craft & Design Show Hyde Hall - Hyde Hall Live 70s night Motorfest - Kings Farm
July
Thursday 1st Hotbox - Resonance
Chelmsford Library
Its been lovely to see so many customers old and new returning to see us - we have enjoyed welcoming you back! Our new Library Management System is now up and running in our libraries and on our website so do take a look. Keep an eye out on the website and on our Facebook page for future plans as we look forward to being able to restart some of our events and clubs - no dates yet. Coming Soon the Summer Reading Challenge will be taking place this summer in our libraries! Open to all children, the theme is Wild World Heroes working in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund. Sign up from 10th July and receive rewards for reading six books during the summer with a medal and certificate when the challenge is completed.
Friday 2nd Hotbox - A Cause in Distress + Mezzontint Saturday 3rd Central Park - Fake Festival 2021 Hotbox - Mercury Rising + Bled the Fifth Sunday 4th Online - Black Frog Presents: shows from 5pm (see page 6 for details) Chelmsford Carnival - www.chelmsfordcarnival.co.uk Thursday 8th Hotbox - Hothaus Drag Presents: The Feel Good Ball Friday 9th CCFC - Wille & the Bandits + Callum Ingram Hotbox - Shakey’s Sessions: Admissions Saturday 10th Hotbox - The Recreation Sunday 11th Hotbox - Zak Barrett & friends Tuesday 13th Civic Theatre - Tell Me on a Sunday Wednesday 14th Civic Theatre - Tell Me on a Sunday Thursday 15th Civic Theatre - Tell Me on a Sunday Friday 16th CCFC - Robin Bibi Big Band + Jeff Chapman’s Roosters Civic Theatre - Tell Me on a Sunday Hotbox - Stealing Signs + Last Hyena + Mandeville Saturday 17th Civic Theatre - Tell Me on a Sunday Hotbox - Stealing Signs + Last Hyena + Mandeville Sunday 20th Online - Black Frog Presents: shows from 5pm (see page 6 for details)
Do you have a spare laptop that you no longer use collecting dust somewhere? Chelmsford Library are collecting laptop donations to support children in Essex with their studies. Since December 2020, Essex County Council has distributed 5,000 laptops to schools and colleges to give to families whose children don’t have access to a device at home. These generous donations have been able to help children and young adults with their learning, despite not having their own devices at home. To find out more and to keep up to date, search ‘Chelmsford Library’ and follow us on Facebook or on Twitter or by subscribing to our newsletter - go to our website at libraries.essex.gov.uk. Rest assured, we will continue to adhere to Government guidelines regarding social distancing, face coverings and hygiene to ensure your visit will be safe and enjoyable. Come and see us soon!
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The Chelmsford Festival Returns in 2021 A new guided circular walk around Moulsham will explore the area’s rich history and will reveal the stories hidden in plain sight in the streets. The walk leaves Chelmsford Museum at 1pm and again at 3pm on Sunday 27th June - booking in advance is required. Streets Alive will focus on the city centre and bring a new dimension to the familiar.
After being delayed in 2020 by the Covid restrictions, The Chelmsford Festival will be returning to the city after the success of the inaugural festival in 2018. The city’s streets will again be awash with spectacular events that will excite the senses and add vibrancy to the city’s air. The festival will run from Saturday 19th June to Sunday 4th July. From live music to historic walks, art to street carnival and talks, the festival has something for everyone. Highlights include: The House and Garage Orchestra featuring 90s soul singer Shola Ama at Admirals Park on Friday 25th June. Ska/reggae band The Dualer’s, along with From the Jam and The Special’s Neville Staples, will take to the park’s stage the following night for a night of feel-good tunes. Chelmsford-based live music venue Hot Box and electronic collective Resonance will be hosting music events in the High Street to celebrate Make Music Day on Monday 21st June from noon. Adding a serious note to the festival is BBC journalist Hugh Pym, who will be in conversation at the Cramphorn Theatre on Friday 2nd July discussing the Marconi scandal of 1913.
Tony Morrison, Creative Director of the festival, says: “2020 was a difficult year; we had to cancel the festival because of the Government advice, but we want to make this festival really something special and celebrate our wonderful community. My own highlight of the festival is Streets Alive on Saturday 3rd July - it will be silly and totally unpredictable!”. Also running will be several art events including an art exhibition in the Meadows Shopping Centre, a handmade postcard installation in Chelmsford Cathedral, and many other events. The carnival will conclude the Chelmsford Festival on Sunday 4th July, and will start at 1pm. This year’s carnival will be a green event with no motorised vehicles taking part - instead, revellers are encouraged to be inventive with their floats. As Tony Morrison explains: “Chelmsford has a reputation for ingenuity and engineering excellence, so we want people to reflect this in how they design their floats. We want to see go-carts, trollies, bikes, roller skates and anything else which will be bold, exciting and be kind to our environment.” For more details on the carnival, including the route, please visit www.chelmsfordcarnival.co.uk. To find out more about the Chelmsford Festival visit www.chelmsfordfestival.co.uk.
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City Times History Agriculture in the Chelmsford Area (Part Five) - By Stephen Norris This fifth article on farming in the Chelmsford area looks at the Essex Show during the interwar period, and fruit growing in the area. It also looks at the effect of the Second World War on local farming and farming after the war, including the continuation of the history of Marriages. During the interwar period, the Essex Show had difficulty in maintaining its importance, but still survived. The 1922 show was held at Chelmsford - each year the show was built from nothing on a different site. In 1927 it was held again in Chelmsford, this time at Hylands, but attendances were hit by the weather. Despite £1,500 being raised by donations, a loss of £600 had to be carried forward. Hylands however, was seen as the ideal site because of the ample facilities for parking. By the 1930s each show had an enormous range of machinery which the typical farm labourer would never have seen before. By 1938 attendances were reaching almost 40,000, many brought by motor buses from all over the county. With regard to fruit growing in the Mid Essex area in the interwar period, the major firm was Seabrooks which started in Boreham, but had also established itself in Great Leighs. William Seabrook had turned to fruit growing in the 1880s because of the depression in mainstream farming. Due to the cheapness of land compared with America, costs were considerably below those in the US. Seabrook himself designed a fruit farm plough. By the 1920s he was conscious of the need to spray crops. The first grading and sizing machine to be used anywhere in Britain was erected at Seabrook’s Chantry Farm. Later, the larger packing shed at Little Leighs Hall was the largest anywhere in Europe at the time. ‘In 1934 the first automatic one-man sprayer came on to the scene.’ Seabrook introduced bee houses because bees were needed to pollinate the crops, and Boreham was the centre for fruit tree raising, where trees were lifted and sent to all parts of the country. His first book Modern Fruit Growing went through nine editions. Seabrooks became particularly well known for its variety of blackcurrants. The firm was a large employer in Boreham and the Leighs. In Boreham between the wars, about thirty families lived in houses owned by the firm, but many also came from Chelmsford to work on the fruit farms. The interwar period saw labourers continue to leave farm work in all the local villages. In many cases they just went to work in the now sizeable engineering firms in the town. Traditional craftsmen were also often under pressure. In Great and Little Leighs for example these craftsmen were still functioning, but as in other villages the blacksmith was finding it a struggle to survive. The depression during the 1930s hit the village hard and as elsewhere there was a big increase in poaching. The Second War gave a massive boost to farmers, but farm workers were not reserved from call up which resulted in an immediate shortage of workers - 5,000 farm workers left the county as a whole for the war. School boys on their holidays and Italian prisoners of war helped locally, but this was not enough; boys from the grammar school also worked at harvest time and the Women’s Land Army were drafted in large numbers. In the county, this was all organised from the new Writtle Institute. All derelict land was commandeered by the War Agricultural Executive Committee and it was not handed back immediately after the war - land tribunals had to establish who owned what. The Chelmsford area was one of 13 established in the county, and every farm was visited by the ministry to gauge their potential. The War Agricultural Executive used its powers to reclaim over a 1,000 acres from building estates in the Chelmsford area for growing. Around Boreham Airfield, Page 18
like other airfields in the county, the land was intensively farmed. The Executive directed the digging of 4,000 miles of ditches in the county as a whole. As elsewhere, the Chelmsford public made a valuable contribution by growing vegetables. Pasture was halved in favour of arable farming, and the war saw 144,000 tons of wheat produced per year in the county compared with a peak of 162,000 in the First War. The Second War saw a big decline in the number of horses and an increasing move towards mechanisation. The new Writtle Institute played a major role in ‘Dig for Victory’ advising on soils, cultivation, cropping and pests. Women came to the institute for short three week courses. As in the First War, most staff were seconded to the War Agricultural Executive. In the immediate post-war period, agriculture was very prosperous with increasing guaranteed prices. The relative wages of those workers who remained improved. Working hours that had often been above 60 hours in the interwar period were reduced to 39 by 1990. By the end of the twentieth century, the practice of tied cottages had ended but the arrival of commuters to the villages around Chelmsford raised rents way above what farm workers could afford. In general however, the later part of the century was a good one for farm workers. During the 1980s farm workers received a wage increase twice the rate of inflation. This didn’t prevent local farm workers following up the increasing trend of protest. In 1975 farm workers from all over the county marched through the town to the Shire Hall. In the later years of the century, the membership of the EFU drastically declined as the size of farms increased and the number of farmers fell. Amalgamations of farms were led by orders for large quantities of high quality food. Vertical integration also occurred where big commercial concerns took over contract farmers. The war had seen a decline of 5,000 horses in the county, but there were still 3,000 in 1960 - it took another 20 years for tractors and combine harvesters to fully take over. Crops like sugar beet declined quickly in the Chelmsford area after the 1970s because they remained expensive to produce. Massive tractors increasingly crossed the fields, though combines took time to become popular, requiring fields to be enlarged and the countryside stripped of many of its hedges. By the 1960s the self-propelled harvester was taking over. Marconi Instruments produced a moisture meter which both farmers and farm workers used. It became an essential piece of equipment. After the war, the Chelmsford area continued to be well known for market gardening, although it was generally on a smaller scale compared with the southern part of Essex. The region specialised in forced crops including onions, brussels early greens, radishes, carrots, celery, runner beans, asparagus and the first early potatoes. There was also a big increase in local turkey production after the war. Pig rearing, after previously being popular, decreased towards the end of the twentieth century. Marriages’ mills escaped damage during the Second War, even though the Chelmer Mill was in real danger because it was so close to the Hoffmann factory. Henry Marriage died in 1938 and Croxtons Mill at Little Waltham was sold along with other parts of the estate. In the 1950s the Marriages had to expand their silos at Chelmer Mill to hold much more grain and by 1971 1,200 tons could be held at the mill - most of the flour went to master bakers, usually family businesses. Marriages were successful in the packeted, domestic, white flour
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trade where there were still many small grocers to sell to. When the supermarkets took over, the firm concentrated on producing specialised flours for the ‘more discriminating housewife’. In 1970 a new animal feed mill was built replacing the old one at Moulsham Mill. It used a Christy and Norris hammer mill, but by the end of the century the firm was using computers to calculate the amounts of different raw materials needed for the feed. The Marriages separated the farming business from milling in 1960. Its farms later became known as Brick Farms Limited but the two businesses remained closely intertwined. Towards the end of the century ‘cash and carry’ warehouses were opened at Colchester as well as Chelmsford for orders of animal feeds and pet foods.
Canon Tom’s E-Pistle
Hello friends. I hope that by the time you read this the weather has taken a turn for the better. May was certainly a lot colder than I was expecting and I know I wasn’t the only one. I had a Facebook message asking: ‘Am I the only one who is inexplicably angry at the weather this month?’. I have to say, I suspect not... Isn’t it strange how we can allow ourselves to be wound up by things like the weather, which we simply have no control over? However it’s not surprising. In today’s world we are often given the sense that we know most things and are in control of a lot that goes on in the world. That message brings us comfort and a certain amount of confidence to live our daily lives allowing us to make plans for the future. If we
In the early 1980s Marriages closed Moulsham Mill and it was refurbished to be used by a charity operating small businesses - mainly arts and crafts. 40 jobless people worked to restore the building, which is still owned by Marriages. Despite the deaths of three family directors, three young Marriages became the sixth generation of the family to become involved with the business. In 2012 the firm bought a second feed mill this time in Lincolnshire. Hannah Marriage featured on one of Michael Portillo’s programmes on British railway journeys because of the historic importance of railway links to the firm, particularly Chelmer Mill. spent all of our time worrying about what might happen and feeling helplessly out of control of our lives, we would make no progress and the human race would probably die out quite quickly. No. It’s that sense of security, perhaps even certainty, that allows us to look ahead and to plan in a way that enables us to get things done and move ahead with our lives. I guess that’s why the last year or so has shaken so many people and caused a loss of confidence in some. Having our lives turned upside down can do that to people and yet we are seeing the beginnings of a way out of the predicament we find ourselves in because, together, people have acted in a way that has been responsible and given us a chance to overcome the COVID-19 virus. I hope that we are aware of those around us whose confidence has taken a knock over the last year or so and that we will have the kindness to try and help them regain their optimism and faith for the future. Tom
Record Store Day Is Coming!
Record Store Day 2021 is in full swing this year with Part 1 taking place at Intense Records in June. Now Intense is preparing for Part 2 on Saturday 17th July. For Part 1 there were hundreds of limited edition releases catering for every taste and genre, including artists like AC/DC, Linkin Park, Amy Winehouse, Noel Gallagher, U2, Suede, Ian Dury, Prince, and Madness. Some of these are still available at Intense now, so go track them down at the Intense record store along Viaduct Road, or look on their website. Drop 2 this month sees releases from Bastille, Black Sabbath, Bob Dylan, Chic, The Clash, The Cure, Czarface, Gorillaz, Hapy Mondays, Jamiroquai, Miles Davis, The Rolling Stones and loads more. You can check out the full list of releases at www.intenserecords. com and submit your wish list there too, so we know what you are after. We will be having DJs playing live all day and opening a makeshift bar selling the exclusive RSD craft beer. We open at 8am on the day, but you might need to get up earlier than that to secure yourself a copy of that special vinyl on your wishlist! Intense will be back open on Sunday 18thfrom 10am-4pm and any remaining stock will go online. For more info visit Intense Records, 33/34 Viaduct Road, Chelmsford CM1 1TS (under the arches by the bus station), or call 01245 347 372. www.issuu.com/itsyourmedia
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Spot the Difference - 10 to find (answers on page 23)
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A Year in the Life of the Mayor During Mental Health Awareness Week in May, the Mayoress and I visited Chelmsford High Street and stopped by the Mid and North Essex Mind stand where members of the public could pick up details of the help on offer. Whilst in the city centre, I spoke to the managers of The Courtyard and John Lewis to discuss the challenges their businesses have - and continue to face - during this difficult time.
F Cooke and Sons eel and pie house in Moulsham Street welcomed customers back into their shop on 17th May after providing a takeaway service during lockdown - I was delighted to partake of one of their delicious pies. I then went on to our wonderful Oaklands Museum who have finally opened their doors to the public, on an appointment basis, again after such a long period of enforced closure. I was also able to visit Rob Saggs, CEO of Chess homeless shelter in New London Road where there is a lot of good partnership work going on across Chelmsford to support rough sleepers. Their outreach team regularly visit rough sleepers and they offer advice on the best action to take to support them by visiting their website at chesshomeless. org. The Deputy Mayor and Mayoress joined me in visiting Boreham Primary School to open their fabulous bio-dome, the only one in an Essex primary school. Headteacher Ian Bowyer explained how the pupils could grow produce to use in the school and sell excess for funds. We met the Green Team who showed us around their allotment.
It was a pleasure to be invited to the official opening of the outdoor gym at Boleyn Gardens in Beaulieu Park. This is proving very popular with residents, and Cllr Rose Moore and Cllr Susan Sullivan spoke before I said a few words and cut the ribbon. Unfortunately the 39th Great Baddow Charity races were virtual again this year. Instead of a throng of participants and supporters all congregating at Great Baddow Recreation Ground, I recorded a video of support for runners who were completing the distances in their own local areas to support charities Chelmsford Mencap and Parc Essex. Congratulations to all who took part and well done for supporting such worthy charities. Hopefully we can all meet next year in person. I have continued to present badges and letters of thanks from the NHS and Chelmsford CVS to all the volunteers who have been supporting vaccination sessions at Whitley House Surgery and Melbourne Surgery in Chelmsford. My heartfelt thanks to them all and a special thank you to Sally from Chelmsford CVS for sorting out the volunteer rotas for all the sessions. Another quiet ceremony was a wreath laying at the Chelmsford War Memorial to celebrate the centenary of the Royal British Legion and all the great work they have done and continue to do in supporting the Armed Forces community. The RBL has a network of volunteers, members, fundraisers and corporate partners who share their passion for bringing people together to support, commemorate and celebrate the Armed Forces community.
On 19th May it was an honour and a privilege to have been elected as Mayor of Chelmsford for a second year at Chelmsford City Council’s AGM held with minimum, socially distanced, attendance at the Civic Theatre. My Mayoress will continue to be my daughter Helen, and the Deputy Mayor Cllr Linda Mascot, with her husband Ian as her consort. My thanks to councillors, council staff and members of my fundraising team, The Motley Crew, who have helped make this last year special. My charities, Helping Hands Essex, Mid and North East Essex Mind and Sanctus, will each receive one third of the £9,000 raised. This is a wonderful amount of money when you realise we couldn’t put on any special fundraising events apart from a couple of pub quizzes. I am keeping the same charities for my second year in office and hope to have many fundraising events for you to join in and enjoy. Please contact mayors.office@chelmsford.gov.uk if you’d like a Mayoral visit. You can also follow me on: Facebook: Mayor of Chelmsford Twitter: @Chelmsmayor Instagram: Chelmsford_mayor
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Chelmsford Window Gallery Presents... The Window Gallery Chelmsford was set up in June 2018 to give local artists a space to display their work in Broomfield Road, Chelmsford. We host a new exhibition every month. You can view this exhibition in the Window Gallery from 2nd June to 2nd July - also check out the video at youtu.be/RC_nAkWELM8 with music by Suzy Cramer (@cramersuzy, spoti.fi/3oW3bde). Featured Artist Month 2021: David Jackson When did you start making art? “I was always interested in art, doing art A-level at school, but it wasn’t until 2015 and a chance opportunity in my first job that reignited the flame. After university I spent four years at the Bat Conservation Trust, the only charity dedicated to bat conservation in the UK. I was designing a new leaflet which required a diagram for all the places a bat could roost in a tree, and with no photographs I thought I would trial painting it instead. A fairly basic piece, but it was a success, and following on from collaboration at the time it became part of a poster, translated, and used around the world. Combining my passion of the environment to my art, safe to say after that I was picking up the brush more frequently.”
innovations and the simple actions individuals can make, to which I could the incorporate into my art.” What do you do if you’re not inspired? “A walk outside usually does it in our local green spaces park and going off the beaten tracks to explore a slightly wilder element of the landscape. Also just viewing the artists I follow on social media to see their latest pieces too and potentially where they got their inspiration from.” Where do you practice art? “Just in my house, for which our dining table also triples up as my current workstation, and also my place for painting.” Do you have any connections with the art community in Chelmsford? “No, unfortunately I do not. I follow a couple of Chelmsford galleries and artists, but I do not have specific connections, not yet anyway. How often do you create? “Whenever I can in my spare time. Over 20 pieces since 2015, so I guess you could say every few months. Not too many, but hopefully I’ll be able to increase that at some point.” What’s the best thing about being an artist? “Seeing a potential opportunity outside, and being able to capture those emotions and scene in a permanent form. Art for me is also primarily a hobby, so being able to do something I enjoy and as an aid to relax is equally fantastic.”
What sort of art do you create and has this changed over time? “The majority of my paintings are of watercolours or acrylics (or indeed both). I am a hobbyist painter, my drawing ability is not on the same level of my physical painting, so I do tend to trace outlines in order to give the best starting point (but something I hope will improve). Taken from my own photographs, my earlier works were trying to bring out the emotions of a natural landscape, with the odd human element for added effect.”
Where have you exhibited before? “Nope, this is the first time I’ve exhibited - I never thought I was good enough or would have enough artwork to do so, so it is a great feeling!”
“In my commissioned work there has also been a number of animal portraits, pets mostly, with a beloved cat who passed away my next piece. “I have also branched into something a bit more ‘fun’ recently - well for me anyway. I work in the sustainability sector, so it combines important messages, with painting, and a childhood to adult activity; painted sustainable Lego scenes, promoting reusable coffee cups, enjoying nature, recycling etc, and the original scene made from my own Lego of course!” What inspires you? “Being able too see and capture the emotions that can be felt within a natural landscape and how humans can positively have an impact. I am always looking for that next bit of weather to create an emotive glimpse in nature that I can then capture, in addition to the British wildlife that inhabits the land. I am also inspired by new sustainable Page 24
Do you sell your work? If so, is it difficult to part with it? “Never thought I would, but I have actually done a number of commissions over the past few years, mostly for at the request of friends or people I know, but that doesn’t make it any less exciting. I’m always a little sad to see a painting go, but the feedback has been fantastic and knowing that they’ve got a piece of me is well worth it. There is also always a small part of me that worries about what will happen to a painting in the future, but I hope it’s a happy ending!” What superpower would you have and why? “With my sustainable hat, and with the potential of increased extreme weather events, I would say the power of controlling ice. I do not cope well in heat so being able to cool down immediately would be ideal!” Instagram: @david_ecolife www.windowgallery.org Window Gallery - Broomfield Road, Chelmsford
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Hummingbird’s Reopening - By Mandy Haynes We were so happy to reopen our doors on 17th May and welcome you back to our lovely studios! If you have already joined us in the studio for a class, then you will be familiar with the new set up - but if you are yet to join us, or are looking for a new studio in which to practice yoga and pilates, then let me tell you how it all works and what we can offer you!
6pm - 7pm -
We are a COVID-19-secure studio and will continue to maintain our high standards of infection control with temperature and symptom checks on arrival, alcohol gelling of hands required on entering the studios, a stringent cleaning regime, one-way system and social distancing measures. You can feel reassured that your health and well-being remains at the heart of what we do, thus we will provide you with a safe and calm environment, with plenty of space in which to enjoy your practice.
Saturday 8am - 9am -
We are also continuing to offer classes online so that you can choose whether to join us in the studio or online via the wonders of Zoom. We hope that it’ll give you more choice of how and when you join us for class. We realise that we’re all adapting to new ways of living and working and hope that our new set-up will give you greater flexibility and the chance to join us more often, whether it be for an extra studio class in the morning, or for an online lunchtime class between work commitments. Our classes have a maximum of 8 spaces in the studio and 8 spaces online, and most classes will have the option of studio or online attendance. We have set up discrete camera and lighting equipment in the studios so that only the teacher will be on view and those who have chosen to join us online get an enhanced experience with professional image and sound quality. There are several packages available from Unlimited Memberships (available for studio only, online only or both), Pay As You Go class packages, or drop-in options. This is our current schedule which will be reviewed in September: Monday 9.30am - 10.30am - Vinyasa Flow Yoga with Steve - Studio 2 & online 11am - midday Beginners Hatha Yoga with Steve - Studio 2 & online 7pm - 8pm Hatha Yoga with Steve - Studio 2 & online Tuesday 10.30am - 11.30am - Gentle Pilates with Erica - Studio 1 & online 6pm - 7pm Pilates with Erica - Studio 1 & online 6.30pm - 7.30pm Beginners Hatha with Steve - Studio 2 & online 7.10pm - 8.10pm Mixed level Pilates with Erica - Studio 1 & online Wednesday 10am - 11am Midday - 1pm 6pm - 7pm 6.15pm - 7.15pm 7.10pm - 8.10pm 7.30pm - 8.30pm -
Postnatal Yoga with Vikki (not included in Hummingbird memberships, email Vikki to book vikki@yogawithvikki.co.uk) Beginners Hatha Yoga with Steve - Studio 2 & online Intermediate Pilates with Erica - Studio 1 & online Hatha Yoga with Steve - Studio 2 & online Gentle Pilates with Erica - Studio 1 & online Vinyasa Flow Yoga with Mandy - online
Thursday 10am - 11am Gentle Yoga & Relaxation with Vikki - online 11.30am - 12.30pm - Beginners Hatha Yoga with Steve - Studio 2/ online
Pilates with Sarah - online
Friday 10.30am - 11.30am - Gentle Pilates with Erica - Studio 1 & online Midday - 1pm Pilates with Erica - Studio 1 & Online 6.30pm - 7.30pm Chill Out Yoga with Steve - Studio 2 & online Vinyasa Flow Yoga with Steve - Studio 2 & online 9am - 10pm Intermediate Pilates with Erica - Studio 1 & online 10.10am - 11.10am - Pilates with Erica - Studio 1 & online 10.30am - 11.30am - Pregnancy Yoga with Vikki (not included in HB memberships - email Vikki to book: vikki@ yogawithvikki.co.uk) Sunday 10am - 11am -
Yoga with Steve - Studio 2 & online
We hope that you’ll continue to support us in this new chapter and that these changes also give you more of the pilates and yoga that you love. We look forward to seeing you on the mat soon! If you have any questions, please do get in touch - email us at info@ hummingbirdpilates.co.uk.
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CT Therapy Hi everyone! Jenny here, I hope you’re all staying safe and well. In light of us easing out of lockdown I thought that it would be handy for you all to have an update on how we’re running things at Chelmsford Therapy Rooms to ensure that we continue to operate within the Government guidelines. I have put some measures in place to help keep all therapists and clients stay safe. First of all it is up to the client to decide whether they would like to see a therapist face-to-face, or whether they are happy to have therapy via an online video platform like Zoom or Skype, or via telephone. This is a conversation I have urged our therapists to have with new and existing clients regularly so that everyone has a clear plan as to how clients wish to move forward with their therapy. For those who feel that seeing us face-to-face is something you want to do, I have put measures in place to ensure that both client and therapist maintain the Government’s safe distance of 2 metres apart at all times. I have measured 2 metres (or 6 feet) from the doorway entrance to the reception area and marked this with hazard tape yes, I already had hazard tape; that’s a long story from about four years ago involving a broken radiator and an over zealous friend! I have asked the therapists at CTR to follow this procedure when seeing clients on site: 1. Leave the front door on the latch so the client can let themselves in. 2. The therapist should stand behind the hazard tape well away from the client as they enter. There is hand sanitiser on the reception desk next to the entrance, and on the bookcase behind the hazard tape, so that both therapist and client can sanitise their hands. The client can then go straight through to the therapy room to sit down.
can accommodate everyone safely. The room will be built at the back of the main office building, and it has it’s own window so we can ensure there is still plenty of ventilation. The room will be about the same size as Room 2 so the chairs will still be minimum 2 metres apart. Although we’re busy, we are still taking enquiries - so please feel free to contact us. We are here to help! If anyone has any questions or queries please contact me using the details below. Thanks everyone, take care and stay safe! Jenny Hartill is a therapist and owner of Cloud9 Therapy and Chelmsford Therapy Rooms. She is a counsellor, hypnotherapist and mnemodynamic therapist and can help with a multitude of issues. She, and the other therapists at CTR, are seeing clients online via Zoom or Skype but is beginning to see clients face-to-face. Please see the therapist list on the the website at www.chelmsfordtherapyrooms.co.uk, or you can email info@ chelmsfordtherapyrooms.co.uk or call 0330 100 5162 to enquire about an initial consultation. Alternatively, Jenny’s own company website is www.cloud9-therapy.co.uk, her email is info@cloud9therapy.co.uk and her telephone number is 07507 307 170.
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3. Once the client is seated, the therapist can go through to the therapy room and sit down. NOTE: All chairs in the therapy rooms are a minimum of 2.1 metres apart. For this system to work so that therapist and client are a minimum of 2 metres apart at all times, clients need to meet the therapist as suggested above and NOT use the reception area. 4. When the client needs to leave, the therapist should leave the room first and stand behind the hazard tape. The client can then leave the therapy room via the front door and the 2 metre distance has been maintained at all times. 5. I have provided alcohol wipes in therapy Room 1 and Room 2. The therapists are required to wipe down all surfaces that therapist and client have come into contact with after each session, this includes door handles in the therapy rooms, toilet area, and the front door as well as tables. Face Masks We ask that all clients and therapists wear a face mask when on premises and not in the therapy rooms. When in the therapy rooms, it is up to the therapist and client to decide together if they wish to wear a face covering for the duration of the session. It’s really warm as I’m writing this, so I understand that not everyone will be comfortable wearing a face covering for 50 minutes or more, even with the windows open! Building Room 3 We have become very busy over the last couple of months. As a result I’ve decided that now is the time to build Room 3 so that we Page 26
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The Ramblings of Britain’s Oldest Angry Young Man Welcome to the ramblings of Britain’s oldest angry young man! I was born in 1938: my mother said I was responsible for the Second World War! Not far from the truth, when still in my pram an unsporting German fighter pilot strafed the Dovercourt promenade one Sunday morning. My mother pushed me and my pram into a ditch running alongside the promenade and threw her body across me. Welcome Derek, to the Second World War! As if that wasn’t enough of a nasty experience, what followed three weeks later was my being attacked in my pram by a rabid dog. The slobbering animal was fought off by our border collie, who unfortunately caught rabies and had to be destroyed! These two harrowing experiences have remained in my long-term memory for many years. When I hear people gloating over ‘the good war they had’ I remind them the only people who had a good war were the black market spivs, the con artists and those men with flat feet or similar medical problems denying them the honour of taking part in defending Britain, instead taking advantage of war weary wives and daughters whose husband or father were fighting for King and Country. My mother survived the war despite being blown up twice in the munitions factory where she worked (anyone remember Bramble Island?). My father was in Burma during the war and when he returned home he was a changed man, one of many who had been hauled out of their safe community, to be privy to the horrors of war. Of course there were thousands, if not millions of people in Britain doing their bit for the war effort and they have to be applauded. However, we are in safer, more stable times today - so just imagine for a moment having to hide under the stairs in your house (where you would hide in a bungalow is another matter) while listening to the drone of enemy bombers heading on to blitz London, when you know that on their way back they will jettison unused bombs and other non-essential bits over you before they flew home across the North Sea. I believe the founder of National Car Parks started his business by charging car owners to park on spaces created from bombsites. Bombsites also created a new playground for kids (no elf ’n’ safety back then). Living dangerously was a way of life for kids, including me and my younger brother. A certain amount of stress came with the first doodlebugs thrown at Britain by a certain Mr Hitler. Those flying bombs were a nightmare of
fear and it was a lottery as where they would land and explode. I saw my first one as I was leaving the Regal Cinema in Dovercourt. I was so spellbound to see it fly from the North Sea on its way to Suffolk, where of course, it would cause untold death and destruction. Kids soon got the measure of these flying bombs. We soon worked out that if the engine cut out before it got to you, chances were high that you house or street would be the target as the bomb silently dropped from the sky. If the engine cut out having gone over your house everyone breathed a sigh of relief, as some other poor souls would get it. A highlight of the war was when a doodlebug landed in some trees close to the outdoor swimming pool in upper Dovercourt and miraculously failed to explode. The word soon transformed Dovercourt, as hundreds of people, including my mother and myself ran to see this monstrosity up close. On arrival we saw the bomb, smoke escaping from parts of its body, and an army bomb disposal unit crawling all over it. A sole policeman was trying to keep order and failing to do so. Eventually, he shouted to the milling crowd the famous words so beloved: ‘move along please, move along - nothing to see here!’ Nothing to see? Only a flying bomb that has not gone off, but presumably, could at any time until the army could diffuse it. As the Daily Mail’s Richard Littlejohn would say: ‘you couldn’t make it up’. On one jittery occasion the family was under the stairs, waiting for the inevitable doodlebug. To our horror, the engine cut out long before it reached us. As the bomb got closer my mother covered my brother and myself with her body, anticipating the worst. With a huge whoosh it had narrowly missed us, taking slates off our roof and exploding in the next street. Windows were blown out and some 26 people were killed in a block of flats punctured by the bomb. A rebuilding of the flats can be seen today in Cliff Road, Dovercourt. Throughout the war, my family lived in Brooklyn Road that runs parallel to Cliff Road, a close run thing don’t you know! Derek’s new self-published book Shepperton Studios - A Personal View (where he worked in management 1960-1965, together with Hollywood stars and directors fleeing Senator McCarthy’s ‘witch hunts’ in America) is now available. Signed copies can be had at £9.50 (inc p&p), unsigned copies at £7.50 (inc p&p). Email dthreadgall1165@gmail.com, or call 07712 378 320.
CT Wildlife Corner - By Nick Green In suburban gardens we may perhaps see small pipistrelle bats. An unexpected visit to a pond in the Southend area produced an unexpected revelation in mid-April. I noticed a brownish bird that I thought was a sand martin (wingspan 27cm) but closer inspection revealed it to be a bat! Consultation with experts confirmed it was the larger, native serotine bat (wingspan 35cm). The back is smoky brown, the wings were broad and it was highly manoeuvrable. The diet is flying insects feeding usually at night, and the species is active April to October. The species roosts in small numbers in buildings all year round and is highly vulnerable to disturbance from construction work and toxic timber treatment. The species receives the highest level of protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Selected May Highlights National: American species included northern mockingbird (third record for UK if accepted by BBRC) in Northumberland; Hooded Merganser at Loch Kinnirdy RSPB; in Cornwall an American herring gull. Essex: Wrabness & Watt Tyler CP: bee-eater, Rochford: woodchat shrike, Old Hall RSPB: golden oriole, Hullbridge: singing corncrake. Serotine bat (copyright: Jeff Delve) www.thecitytimes.co.uk
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Chelmsford Community Radio - Shakey’s Sessions into the studio to play live and chat about their music and upcoming gigs etc. The main reason I feel the show works and people enjoy the show is because its new music, and in many cases the first time the acts have been played on radio - they naturally get all their families and friends to tune in! It’s also a great way to choose new acts to invite to play the Shakey’s Sessions gigs which I host.
We are really proud of the diverse choice of shows here on Chelmsford Community Radio and would like to introduce you to a some of our presenters. First up is Shakey... “Shakey’s Sessions began around May 2014. At the time I was also presenting Shakey’s Unsigned Sessions on Saint FM which I had taken over from Anver Anderson and rebranded in May 2010. “From day one when I started on Saint FM and when I started on CCR, the aim was to play tracks from local, unsigned, up-andcoming acts from mainly around Essex and London, but also from acts playing the gigs I was hosting and other gigs locally. “As well as playing their tracks, I have acts come
“Each year I produce a CD collection of my favourite acts that in normal times I use to promote the local scene when I attend SXSW in Austin, Texas (among other festivals). Since last March, I have been producing the show from home, including Lockdown Live Interviews. With less local acts bringing out new music I had a chance to include new tracks from all over the world, and hopefully when things return to normal some of the acts will include visits to Chelmsford during tour schedules. “Having recently won Best Essex Radio Show/Podcast of the Year at this years Panic Awards for the second year running, I would like to thank every single person who’s voted for the last 2 years, but also all the people who tune in and enjoy the show every Tuesday night and most importantly all the amazing acts who choose my show ahead of others to play their tracks. As I have always said, the shows are only as good as the tracks I am sent to play on it. So the awards are really for all the acts who I play on the show.” You can tune into Shakey’s Sessions on CCR at www.facebook. com/shakeysessions every Tuesday night from 8pm-10pm. Or on 104.4FM in and around the Chelmsford area as well as online at www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com. If you are an act who would like to be included in future Shakey shows, please email an MP3 (320KB) OR WAV file to shakey@ chelmsfordcommunityradio.com.
Quiz Time - by John Theedom 1.
2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
For what was Al Capone convicted in 1931 and imprisoned for 11 years? What are you doing if you have become lachrymosal? What type of animal is a South African Ridgeback? In which year did the £1 coin replace the £1 note? In the world of computing, what do the initials AI indicate? Where, in your house is the postern? Sherlock Holmes lived in which number in Baker Street? How many innings are there in game of baseball? The national flag of which country is also known as Old Glory? In food production, what does UHT stand for? Offa’s Dyke is on the borders of which two UK countries? Who was the steeplejack Fred ….? What type of hat did Tommy Cooper wear on stage? What is the first name of the actress Miss Stubbs? A ‘rood’ is another name for what? Who has a statue behind the bus station complex in Chelmsford? Who was Henry VIII’s third wife? What is the main and largest artery in the human body? Which type of animal is Nellie? EL AL is the airline of which country?
21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40.
Which pre-decimal coin was worth 12 old pence? Which colour eyes do Siamese cats have? Which Scottish city has the nickname Auld Reekie? Which material is made from flax? What nationality is the company IKEA? What is the name of the game that uses 144 small tiles? For what food is the town of Melton Mowbray famous? What is the term for the arrangement of dances? What word connects ‘Saw’, ‘Tie’ and ‘Window’? Who played the role of Baldrick in the Black Adder TV series? In Essex, where is the Museum of Power? What was John Wayne’s birth name? What do the initials BAFTA stand for? What are maracas? What is the name of the latest ‘chaser’ on the TV game show? What is the full title of Archie, son of Harry and Megan? Who was the well known character who was married, but had many ‘wifelets’? Adele had a birthday on May 5th, how old was she? Who or what was the artist Tracey Emin married to in 2015? What is the name of the PCSO who was murdered recently?
(Answers on page 31)
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Stargazing with Mark Willis - June/July Saturn is brightening at the moment. The best time to view the planet will be on 2nd August when it reaches opposition; opposition means closest point to Earth. Meteor Showers, Perseid and Delta Aquarids: Good news is that Perseids will be good this year. Perseid peaks, 12th/13th August. The bad news is that Delta Aquarids will peak 28th/29th July: This means that this year Delta Aquarids will be plagued by the glaring Moon. Next year, the Moon won’t be a problem. Check out this link, in-the-sky.org/article.php, for more about meteor showers and other subjects. This website is a treasure chest of information for the astronomically curious!
Radio. As soon as I have had both my vaccines I will return to Lite Bites at 12pm on Tuesdays. www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com Twitter: @WillisWireless m.willis@hrc.org.uk
Spot the Difference Answers
5th July: Earth arrives at its most distant point from the Sun - this is called aphelion. This means that the Sun got to its closest point to Earth back on 2nd January this year - this is called perihelion. The way I remember which is which, is ‘ph’ sounds like ‘f’ for far. Peri.. sounds like ‘proximity’ which means near. During the winter, the Earth is 3 million kilometres closer than when it is at aphelion. It’s a strange thought to reflect upon when you’re scraping the ice off your windscreen! 20th July: Today is the 45th anniversary of Apollo 11 landing on the Moon. Buz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong in the Eagle lander descended to the lunar surface, while Michael Collins remained in the Columbia in lunar orbit. We will always remember Michael Collins, astronaut, born 31st October 1930 and died 28th April 2021. New Moon: On 8th August and 7th September there will be a new Moon. This means the skies will be extra dark which is a great opportunity to see planets, galaxies and deep space objects. As usual, email me with any questions. I normally present on Chelmsford Community Page 30
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Quiz Answers
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23.
Tax evasion Crying Dog 1983 Artificial Intelligence Back door 221b 9 USA Ultra Heat Treated England & Wales Dibnah Fez Una Quarter acre or Crucifix Guglielmo Marconi Jane Seymour Aorta Elephant Israel 1 shilling Blue Edinburgh
Classifieds 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40.
Linen Swedish Mahjong Pork pies Choreography Bow Tony Robinson Langford (near Maldon) Marion Michael Morrison British Academy of Film & TV Award Small hand-held musical instruments Darragh Ennis (the Menace) Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor The Marquess of Bath 33 A Gallic stone at her house in the south of France Julia James
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